(NECN: Brian Burnell) – Lime Rock Park is usually home to sports car racing but never let it be said the speed freaks here
aren’t open to something different. This is endurance karting. Go karts that have just a bit more pep than the ones at amusement park. Lime Rock has hosted the Special Olympics of Connecticut Endurance Kart Challenge for the past 7 years. Several teams of 3 to 5 drivers race the karts around a small road track for 4 hours. The team with the best time at the end wins. During warmups it became evident some were faster than others. Suzanne Kassoy, Dan’s Automotive Team: I was very slow out there. I’ve never done this before and its just incredibly different than anything I’ve ever done. Suzanne doesn’t have that much to worry about really. I mean, its not like there are professional drivers here. Eric Curran, Team Whelen: Yeah, drive professionally, yup. Absolutely. Sonny Whelen and I both race in the speed world challenge series in Chevy Corvettes. This is so much different, though. Racing Corvettes couldn’t possibly translate to go karts, could it Eric Curran, Team Whelen: Its still got four wheels and its still got a steering wheel so there is some similations to what we’re doing in a Corvette. If they were taking bets I know who my money would be on.
The power plant in these go karts is a little 9-horse Honda engine usually used to run a generator. But put it in a low-to-the ground, light